Q: Why do babies get lip blisters?
A: The way a baby sucks when she's feeding creates friction on her lips, which can cause blisters. Such blisters are more common in breastfed babies than in formula-fed babies, probably because nursing babies have to create suction with their mouths in a way that causes more rubbing, says pediatrician Joanne Cox of Children's Hospital Boston. "Parents don't need to do anything about lip blisters, which usually aren't painful," says Cox. "But if you're a nursing mother, you could try experimenting with different feeding positions." Lip blisters tend to show up among younger babies and are occasionally present at birth — evidence that the newborn was sucking on her fingers or toes in utero.
